Big Ten Recruiting Class Rankings 1-8-12

The recruiting rankings return after the dead period and a New Year's Day siesta. Despite the dead period, there were a fair amount of commitments since the last rankings, including the Wolverines picking up Jehu Chesson (yes, it's been a while since I did one of these). Action since last rankings:

*ESPN doesn't rate JuCos, so they are counted as unranked recruits for the sake of consistency (trust me, it makes sense when you look at the spreadsheet).
^The average of the average rankings of the four recruiting services (aka the previous four columns). The figure is calculated based on the raw numbers and then rounded, so the numbers above may not average out exactly.

On to the full data, after the jump.

#1 Michigan - 24 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Kyle Kalis

OL

OH

5

5

4

4

Royce Jenkins-Stone

LB

MI

4

4

4

4

James Ross

LB

MI

4

4

4

4

Joe Bolden

LB

OH

4

4

4

4

Terry Richardson

CB

MI

4

4

4

4

Erik Magnuson

OL

CA

4

4

4

4

Jarrod Wilson

S

OH

4

4

4

4

Amara Darboh

WR

IA

4

4

3

4

Tom Strobel

DE

OH

4

4

3

4

Ondre Pipkins

DT

MO

4

4

3

4

Blake Bars

OL

TN

4

3

3

3

Devin Funchess

TE

MI

3

4

4

4

Chris Wormley

DE

OH

3

4

4

4

Mario Ojemudia

DE

MI

3

4

4

3

A.J. Williams

TE

OH

3

4

3

3

Matt Godin

DE

MI

3

3

3

4

Kaleb Ringer

LB

OH

3

3

3

3

Ben Braden

OL

MI

3

3

3

3

Jehu Chesson

WR

MO

3

3

3

3

Jeremy Clark

S

KY

3

3

3

3

Caleb Stacey

OL

OH

3

3

3

3

Allen Gant

S

OH

3

3

3

3

Sione Houma

FB

UT

3

3

2

3

Drake Johnson

RB

MI

3

3

2

3

The Wolverines add Jehu Chesson.

#2 Ohio State - 19 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Noah Spence

DE

PA

5

5

5

5

Adolphus Washington

DE

OH

4

5

4

5

Bri'onte Dunn

RB

OH

4

5

4

4

Tommy Schutt

DT

IL

4

5

4

4

Joshua Perry

LB

OH

4

4

4

4

Se'Von Pittman

DE

OH

4

4

4

4

Warren Ball

RB

OH

4

4

3

4

De'Van Bogard

S

OH

4

4

3

4

Michael Thomas

WR

VA

4

4

3

3

Najee Murray

CB

OH

3

4

3

3

Pat Elflein

OL

OH

3

3

4

3

Ricquan Southward

WR

FL

3

3

4

3

Jacoby Boren

OL

OH

3

3

3

4

Cardale Jones

QB

OH

3

3

3

4

Frank Epitropoulos

WR

OH

3

3

3

3

Blake Thomas

TE

OH

3

3

3

3

Roger Lewis

WR

OH

3

3

3

3

Luke Roberts

LB

OH

3

3

3

3

Tyvis Powell

S

OH

3

3

2

3

The Buckeyes get another huge pickup from another Big Ten school after flipping consensus five-star DE Noah Spence from Penn State in consensus five-star DE Noah Spence (who was not a Penn State commit—that's an error on my part).

#3 Notre Dame - 18 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Jarron Jones

DT

NY

4

4

4

5

Tee Shepard

CB

CA

4

5

4

4

Sheldon Day

DT

IN

4

5

4

4

Deontay Greenberry

WR

CA

4

4

4

4

Elijah Shumate

S

NJ

4

4

4

4

Ronnie Stanley

OL

NV

4

4

4

4

William Mahone

RB

OH

4

4

4

3

Taylor Decker

OL

OH

4

4

3

4

KeiVarae Russell

RB

WA

4

4

3

4

Nick Baratti

S

TX

3

4

3

3

C.J. Prosise

S

VA

3

4

3

3

Justin Ferguson

WR

FL

3

3

4

3

Mark Harrell

OL

NC

3

3

4

3

Romeo Okwara

DE

NC

3

3

3

4

Chris Brown

WR

SC

3

3

3

3

John Turner

S

IN

3

3

3

3

Scott Daly

LS

IL

2

2

2

2

The Irish pick up a pair of commits in Elijah Shumate and KeiVarae Russell. They're dead-even with Ohio State in terms of average ranking, but are in third due to having one two fewer commits.

UPDATE: And now they lose cornerback Ronald Darby, a five-star to Scout and a four-star to the other three services.

#4 Wisconsin - 12 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Dan Voltz

OL

IL

4

4

4

4

Vince Biegel

LB

WI

4

4

4

4

J.J. Denman

OL

PA

4

4

4

4

Kyle Dodson

OL

OH

4

4

3

4

Vonte Jackson

RB

WI

4

4

3

4

Bart Houston

QB

CA

3

4

4

4

D.J. Singleton

S

NJ

3

4

4

3

Walker Williams

OL

WA

3

3

3

3

Arthur Goldberg

DT

PA

3

3

2

3

Hugs Etienne

CB

CA

3

2

3

3

Reggie Love

WR

FL

3

2

2

3

Reggie Mitchell

CB

PA

2

2

2

3

No change for the Badgers.

#5 Penn State - 14 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Camren Williams

LB

MA

4

4

4

4

Eugene Lewis

WR

PA

4

4

4

4

Armani Reeves

CB

MA

4

4

4

4

Jamil Pollard

DT

NJ

4

3

3

4

Brent Wilkerson

DE

MD

3

3

3

4

Brian Gaia

OL

MD

3

3

4

3

Skyler Mornhinweg

QB

PA

3

3

4

3

Anthony Stanko

OL

OH

3

3

3

3

Nyeem Wartman

LB

PA

3

3

3

3

Jesse James

TE

PA

3

3

3

3

Austin Johnson

OL

NJ

3

3

NR

3

Malik Golden

ATH

PA

3

3

3

3

Jake Kiley

CB

NH

2

3

2

2

Derek Dowrey

DT

VA

2

3

3

3

The Nittany Lions manage to stem the tide of recruits heading for less-tumultuous situations and even pick up DT Jamil Pollard. We'll see how Penn State can finish out the class with Bill O'Brien—who plans to continue as the offensive coordinator of New England through the NFL playoffs, which could conceivably last through signing day—at the helm.

#6 Michigan State - 14 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Aaron Burbridge

WR

MI

4

4

4

4

Jamal Lyles

LB

MI

4

4

3

3

Benny McGowan

OL

OH

3

3

4

3

Tyler O'Connor

QB

OH

3

3

3

4

Riley Bullough

LB

MI

3

3

3

3

Zach Higgins

OL

OH

3

3

3

3

Josiah Price

TE

IN

3

3

3

3

Nick Tompkins

RB

GA

3

3

3

3

Kyle Kerrick

WR

PA

3

3

3

3

MacGarrett Kings

WR

FL

3

3

3

3

Jermaine Edmondson

S

OH

3

3

3

2

Kodi Kieler

OL

MI

3

3

3

3

Evan Jones

TE

OH

3

3

NR

3

Ezra Robinson

CB

FL

3

3

NR

3

No change for the Spartans.

#7 Iowa - 17 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Faith Ekakitie

DE

IL

4

4

4

4

Greg Garmon

RB

PA

4

4

4

4

Jaleel Johnson

DT

IL

4

4

4

4

Ryan Ward

OL

IL

4

3

4

3

Maurice Fleming

CB

IL

3

3

4

3

Ruben Lile

ATH

MI

3

3

3

3

Cameron Wilson

WR

OH

3

3

3

3

Anthony Morgan

S

TX

3

3

3

3

Mitch Keppy

OL

IL

3

3

2

3

Michael Malloy

RB

IA

3

3

2

3

Drew Ott

DE

NE

3

2

3

3

Daumantas Venckus

DE

FL

3

NR

3

2

Greg Mabin

WR

FL

3

NR

2

3

Laron Taylor

LB

MI

2

3

3

3

Kevin Buford

CB

MI

2

3

3

3

Connor Kornbrath

K

WV

2

3

2

2

Tevaun Smith

WR

CT

2

3

JC

NR

The Hawkeyes snag four-star running back Greg Garmon, leaping Purdue and Indiana in the process.

#8 Nebraska - 11 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Paul Thurston

OL

CO

4

4

4

4

Greg McMullen

DE

OH

4

3

3

4

Jordan Westerkamp

WR

IL

4

4

3

4

Mohammed Seisay

CB

AZ

4

3

JC

4

Zaire Anderson

LB

CA

4

2

JC

3

Michael Rose

LB

MO

3

3

4

4

Tommy Armstrong

QB

TX

3

4

3

3

Jared Afalava

LB

UT

3

3

4

4

Thomas Brown

LB

CA

3

3

3

3

Avery Moss

DE

AZ

3

3

2

3

Sam Cotton

TE

NE

3

2

3

3

Nebraska gets off the schneid and picks up three recruits: Mohammed Seisay, Jared Afalava, and Avery Moss. With only 11 commits but a very nice average, I really have no idea what to do with the Huskers, so for now I'm slotting them behind Iowa.

#9 Purdue - 25 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Ryan Watson

DE

MD

4

4

3

4

Jordan Shine

S

IN

3

3

3

3

Ryan Morris

TE

NJ

3

3

3

3

Austin Appleby

QB

OH

3

3

3

3

Jordan Roos

OL

TX

3

3

3

3

Bilal Marshall

QB

FL

3

3

3

3

Kingsley Ike

DE

TX

3

3

3

3

Dion Witty

CB

FL

3

2

3

3

Jonathan Curry

TE

AL

3

3

3

3

Paul Griggs

K

NC

3

3

3

3

Aloyis Gray

ATH

IN

3

3

2

3

Andy Garcia

LB

FL

3

2

2

2

Cameron Cermin

OL

TX

3

2

3

3

B.J. Knauf

WR

FL

3

3

2

3

Jimmy Herman

S

IN

3

3

2

3

Devin Smith

OL

AZ

3

3

JC

3

Carlos Carvajal

TE

NY

3

3

3

3

Anthony Brown

CB

FL

3

2

2

3

Danny Anthrop

WR

IN

3

2

2

2

Greg Latta

DE

CA

3

2

JC

2

Cameron Posey

WR

FL

3

NR

2

3

James Prince

OL

TX

3

NR

NR

NR

Jordan Woods

WR

MI

2

3

2

3

Thomas Meadows

K

VA

2

2

2

2

Jason King

OL

AK

2

NR

3

NR

The Boilermakers lose Steffon Martin but pick up a trio of commits in Ryan Watson, James Prince, and Jason King.

#10 Northwestern - 20 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Ifeadi Odenigbo

DE

OH

4

4

4

4

Greg Kuhar

DT

OH

4

3

3

3

Adam DePietro

OL

PA

3

4

3

3

Dean Lowry

DE

IL

3

3

3

3

Kenton Playko

OL

OH

3

3

3

3

Eric Olson

OL

MA

3

3

3

3

Jack Schwaba

TE

PA

3

3

3

2

Ian Park

OL

PA

3

3

3

3

Eric Wilson

WR

MI

3

3

3

3

Malin Jones

RB

IL

3

3

2

3

Traveon Henry

RB

FL

3

3

2

3

Terrance Brown

S

CA

3

2

2

3

Mike McHugh

WR

PA

3

2

2

2

Dwight White

CB

TX

3

2

2

2

Connor Mahoney

OL

PA

2

3

3

2

Dan Vitale

S

IL

2

2

2

2

Joseph Jones

S

PA

2

2

2

3

Chris Fitzpatrick

OL

KY

2

2

2

2

Jaylen Prater

LB

OH

2

2

2

3

Andrew Scanlan

WR

PA

NR

NR

2

NR

The Wildcats get a big pickup in four-star DE Ifeadi Odenigbo and vault above Indiana and Illinois in the rankings.

#11 Indiana - 21 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Nick Mangieri

DE

IL

3

3

3

3

Dan Feeney

OL

IL

3

3

3

3

Jordan Wallace

LB

IN

3

3

3

3

Kevin Davis

WR

IN

3

3

3

3

Adam Kranda

TE

IN

3

3

3

3

Wes Rogers

OL

IN

3

3

3

3

Mike Cotton

LB

IL

3

3

3

3

Shawn Heffern

DE

IN

3

3

3

3

Jason Spriggs

TE

IN

3

3

3

3

Jacarri Alexander

LB

IA

3

3

JC

2

Shaine Boyle

CB

CA

3

2

JC

3

Darius Stroud

LB

KS

3

NR

JC

3

David Cooper

LB

KS

3

2

JC

3

Antonio Marshall

CB

GA

3

NR

JC

2

Ryan Thompson

S

MS

3

NR

JC

NR

Caleb Cornett

WR

IN

3

3

2

2

Ralphael Green

OL

TX

3

2

2

NR

Tanner Kearns

TE

OH

2

3

2

3

Alex Todd

OL

OH

2

3

2

3

Jacob Bailey

OL

IN

2

2

3

3

Dawson Fletcher

S

OH

2

2

2

2

Tregg Waters

S

AZ

2

2

JC

2

Justin Rayside

DE

CA

2

2

JC

NR

The Hoosiers lose Sebastian Smith but gain a trio of JuCos in David Cooper, Antonio Marshall, and Ryan Thompson.

#12 Illinois - 14 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

ESPN

24/7

Dami Ayoola

RB

FL

3

3

3

3

Tajarvis Fuller

LB

FL

3

3

3

3

Cody Quinn

CB

OH

3

3

3

3

Joseph Spencer

OL

OH

3

3

3

3

Vontrell Williams

DT

IL

3

3

3

3

Zach Jackson

S

FL

3

3

3

3

Elliot Faerber

WR

KS

3

3

2

2

Robert Bain

OL

IL

3

3

2

3

Tyler Barton

S

FL

3

2

2

2

Teko Powell

DT

FL

3

2

NR

2

Jason Robertson

WR

IL

2

3

3

3

Joey Warburg

OL

KY

2

2

3

3

Ryan Frain

K

IN

2

NR

2

2

Mason Monheim

LB

OH

NR

3

2

3

Illinois loses their top recruit in linebacker Keith Brown, who ended up at Louisville. The Illini do regain kicker Ryan Frain, who had decommitted in December, and add DT Teko Powell and LB Mason Monheim.

I'm really surprised that we have closed strong given our on field success. We could still pull Garnett and some others but I frankly would not be surprised if we don't pick up anyone else. Oh well still a great class and maybe our success this year bears fruit in next years class.

1. ND preaches great academics. IK UofM has great academics, but ND really preaches this being a 40 year decision. ND boasts the #1 business school in the nation, and that brings a lot of positive attention.

2. Tradition. You can hate ND, but its tradition is remarkable and only UofM has a better one (and it could be debateably tied)

3. Great Facitilities

4. Faith. Those of the Catholic denomination love the fact that ND is THE Catholic University. (and manti teo who is mormon, thought it improved his faith)

5. Campus is beautiful. One of the best in the nation.

6. BK preaches a good future, and kids are buying it.

7. ND is just for some kids. For most it is not. But there a select few every year that love ND and what it represents.

Recruiting rankings are a good predictor of how good a player you will be, but the difference between 3.50 and 3.52 is really comfortably in the "too small to matter" category. If you go off the rates given here by Hinton, then Michigan's class (using Rivals), projects to have 0.34 All Americans in this class. Ohio State's number is 0.29.

As far as the pure average issue goes, "only better because of volume" isn't really something to be totally ignored. Put another way - if you remove Wormley and Ojemudia from this class then the average Rivals ranking is 3.54, and now Michigan has both a better average class, and better total class.

Paying attention to the average, and ignoring the value of volume leads to a conclusion that the Michigan class without Wormley and Ojemudia is stronger than the class they actually have. That class would still rate above Ohio State overall on this list, but also have a better average star rating. To me, that seems like a crazy conclusion. There's a reason you can't do these ratings purely by average, and that people care about volume. It matters.

ND graduates 3/4 of the D backfield. Needs to replace a lot. We lose another next year, and lose a couple back ups this year. Last year We pulled for DLine (Lynch, Tuitt, Williams, Springman, Hounshell, Niklas) this year its D backfield. On the redshirting, that is unknown. Tee Shepard wil play. If Darby stays with us (prolly wont) hell play. Then some of the safties will play.

The reason I've seen put forward the most—and this makes sense if you watched him in the Army AA Game—is that he's pretty raw as a corner and quite possibly projects better as a safety. Michigan is in the market for a true corner, not a safety, so it would make sense that they would be more interested in a guy like Armani Reeves, who's a lot more polished at corner at this point.

I don't buy the low ranking for Nebraska. The way I see it, the major powers can get an entire class of 3 star talent if they wanted to (minus long snapper, kickers and maybe fullbacks). I like to look at "Stars above replacement level".

Nebraska has more 4 star recruits than Iowa, MSU or PSU. Can you really say UN's 3.3 average with 11 recruits is that much worse than Wisconsin's 3.35 with 12 recruits?